Washington Irving:Washington Irving: American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism

Washington IrvingWashington Irving1783-18591783-1859

born in New York City born in New York City (near present-day Wall (near present-day Wall St.)St.)

youngest of 11 childrenyoungest of 11 children

parents were Scottish-parents were Scottish-English immigrants English immigrants

Biographical InformationBiographical Information

his parents greatly admired General his parents greatly admired General George Washington (hence his name)George Washington (hence his name)

his father became a wealthy merchant his father became a wealthy merchant

he trained as a lawyer but practiced he trained as a lawyer but practiced only brieflyonly briefly

showed literary promise early in his lifeshowed literary promise early in his life

Home of Washington Irving, Home of Washington Irving, New YorkNew York

Writing Career BeginsWriting Career Begins

1802-3 published a series of newspaper 1802-3 published a series of newspaper articlesarticles

1807-8 published the 1807-8 published the Salmagundi Salmagundi paperspapers

1809 published 11809 published 1stst major work – major work – A History of A History of New YorkNew York

it was supposedly written by Deidrich it was supposedly written by Deidrich Knickerbocker, an old, eccentric historianKnickerbocker, an old, eccentric historian

this work marked Irving’s future coursethis work marked Irving’s future course

it was designed solely for entertainment it was designed solely for entertainment

it taught no serious moral lessonsit taught no serious moral lessons

his fiancée died in 1809his fiancée died in 1809

accounts for melancholic cast over rest accounts for melancholic cast over rest of his life and workof his life and work

Career Shifts to Europe Career Shifts to Europe in 1815in 1815

sailed for England to take charge of sailed for England to take charge of family business in Liverpoolfamily business in Liverpool

when it bankrupted, he concentrated when it bankrupted, he concentrated on literary careeron literary career

traveled throughout England, France, traveled throughout England, France, Spain, Germany, and SwitzerlandSpain, Germany, and Switzerland

wrote history of Christopher Columbuswrote history of Christopher Columbus

Literary Career Literary Career ContinuesContinues

1819 - 1820 1819 - 1820 published published The The Sketch-Book Sketch-Book of Geoffrey of Geoffrey Crayon, Crayon, it included it included “Rip Van “Rip Van Winkle”Winkle” and and “The Legend “The Legend of Sleepy of Sleepy Hollow”Hollow” Old Rip

Irving’s Literary Irving’s Literary PseudonymsPseudonyms

Dietrich Dietrich KnickerbockerKnickerbocker

Jonathan OldstyleJonathan Oldstyle

Geoffrey CrayonGeoffrey Crayon

Irving Widely RecognizedIrving Widely Recognized

By the late 1820s, Irving had By the late 1820s, Irving had gained a gained a

reputation throughout Europe reputation throughout Europe andand

America as a great writer and America as a great writer and thinker thinker

Returns to America in Returns to America in 18321832

returned from Europe to New York returned from Europe to New York

established his home Sunnyside in established his home Sunnyside in Tarrytown Tarrytown

never married or had children never married or had children

for next 25 years he shared Sunnyside for next 25 years he shared Sunnyside with his brother Ebenezer and with his brother Ebenezer and Ebenezer's 5 daughters Ebenezer's 5 daughters

Sunnyside, Home of Sunnyside, Home of IrvingIrving

IrvingIrving on on the the

PorchPorch at at

SunnysiSunnyside de

Additional Views of Additional Views of SunnysideSunnyside

First Genuine American First Genuine American StoriesStories

““Rip Van Winkle”Rip Van Winkle” “ “The Legend of Sleepy The Legend of Sleepy

Hollow”Hollow”

contained distinctive Americancontained distinctive American settings and characters settings and characters

incorporated German folktales incorporated German folktales and legendsand legends

Irving’s GraveIrving’s Grave

On November 28, 1859, on the eve of the Civil War, Washington Irving died at Sunnyside surrounded by his family.

Old Dutch Church in Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. 

He was buried in

the Sleepy Hollow

Cemetery at the

Old Dutch

Church

Works CitedWorks Cited All photos in this All photos in this

PowerPoint presentation PowerPoint presentation came from the came from the

American Memory Collection American Memory Collection of the of the

Library of CongressLibrary of Congress

Back to Beginning Home